Book for carrying flsh ing-fli es



. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I M. BRAY. Book for Carrying Fishing-Plies. Na.228,531. Patented June 8,1880,

I I I I I I I I NIPETERS, FHOTGLITMDGRQPNER. wAsmNG'roN, D. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @EE cE.

MELLEN BRAY, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOK FOR CARRYING FISHING-FLIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,511, dated June 8,1880.

Application filed July 1, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELLEN BRAY, of Newton, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fishermens Fly- Books, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to a pocket-book designed especially for carryingartificial flies; and it consists, first, in the use of a leaf or leaveshaving secured thereon two or more rows or series of springs, underwhich the snood attached to the "fly-hook may be slid and held therebyin an extended or nearly straight position, so that when attached to theleader preparatory to use in fishing it shall hang straight, or nearlyso, and not be coiled up, as is almost invariably the case when kept inthe books now in common use.

My invention further consists in applying to the fly'carryin g leaf orleaves a flap of thick flannel, felt, or other absorbent material,attached preferably to the top end of said leaf or leaves, and adaptedto be folded down over the loops of the snoods, said flaps beingsaturated with water for the purpose of softening the loops of thesnoods to render them more pliable preparatory to attaching them to theleader.

Figure l of the drawings is an elevation of myimproved fly-book openedand having the moisteningflap turned up. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection through one of the fly-carryin g leaves, with the moisteningflaps or pads attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of asingle fly-carrying leaf on line as on Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 4 and 5are, respectively, an elevation and transverse section, illustrating amodified construction of the fly-carrying leaf.

A is the leather cover, provided with the flap A and suitable pockets,(not shown,) constructed in a well-known manner.

B is the liy-carrying leaf in the case shown, made of thin sheet metal,and having secured upon either side thereof three rows or series ofshort springs, to a, each attached to the leaf B independently of theothers by soldering, riveting, or in any other suitable manner, saidattachment being at one end of the spring,

and leaving the other end free, but bearing upon the surface of theleaf, and adapted to press upon and hold the snood when it is drawnunder said spring, as shown in Fig. 1.

The left'hand edge of the metal leaf B is provided with the slots 1) b,by means of which zaid leaf is secured between two flannel leaves,

A series of small round holes, 0 c, are formed across each end of theleaf B, through which thread may be passed to attach thereto themoistening-flaps D, made of thick flannel, felt, or other suitableflexible absorbent material.

One, two, or more of the leaves B may be secured together in the samebook, each of said leaves being inserted between two leaves, 0, offlannel or other absorbent material, secured thereto at the back of thebook and provided with two moistening-flaps, D, secured to its upper orlower end.

The fly-books now in common use are provided with pockets, in which theflies are placed with the snoods coiled up in a circle, which is foundto be objectionable from the fact that the snoods become set in thecoiled position, and when attached to the leader they still remaincoiledmore or less, and do not become straightened out till they have been inthe water for a considerable length of time. This objection is entirelyovercome by the use of my improved fly-book, in which the snoods are allsecured in an extended position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Another advantage of the use of my improved fly-book is, that when thefisherman is about to start for the fishinggrounds he dampens the flapsD and turns them down over the loops of the snoods, and when he reachesthe fishing-grounds the loops are so softened that they can be very muchmore readily and easily attached to the leader without danger ofbreaking.

The flannel or other cloth leaves 0 G serve to absorb the moisture fromthe flies and snoods when they are replaced in the book after havingbeen in the water.

Although the fly-carrying leaf shown is made of sheet metal, I do notwish to be understood as limiting myself to leaves made of metal, as itis evident that the springs to may be secured upon parchment, pasteboardcoated with a water-proof composition, or upon a leaf of felt havingsecured thereto upon either side a skeleton-frame of thin sheet metalhaving cross-bars to receive the springs, as shown in the modificationillustrated in Figs. at and 5, in which E is the leaf of felt, havingriveted thereto the skeleton-frames e 0, one upon each side, said framesbeing each provided with the cross-bars a e e, to which are secured thesprings a a.

I am aware that the snoods hav e been held in an extended position bymeans of a hook secured to the flyleat and adapted to engage with thefly'hook, and another hook attached to the end of an elastic strap, theother end of which is secured to the leaf. I am also aware that two ormore series of leaf-springs have been arranged upon a skeleton-frame tohang upon the wall of" a room to serve as a card-racl;, and therefore Ido not claim either of such devices; but

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

l. The combination, in a fly-book, of one or more leaves provided withmeans for support ing fly-hooks and their snoods in an extendedposition, and one or more intermediate moistening flaps or leaves, D, ofabsorbent material, attached to said fly-supporting leaves, whereby theymay be folded overonto the fiy-leaves or turned out of the book,substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a fly-book, the combination of one or more leaves provided withmeans for supporting one or more fly-hooks and their snoods in anextended position, one or more leaves of absorbent material interposedbetween said fly-supporting leaves and secured to the same binding orcover, and one or more moistening' flaps or leaves of absorbent materialsecured to one or more of the free or movable edges of saidfly-supporting leaves, substantially as and for the purposes described.

Executed at Boston, Massachusetts, this 29th day of June, A. D. 1878.

MELLEN BRAY.

Witnesses N. (J. LOMBARD, M. N. BRAY.

